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The Strategic EdgeASP's monthly update on strategy news, tools, resources and upcoming events

April 2018

CONTENTS

The Presidential Perspective

2018 Annual Conference

Global Webinars

Chapter Events/Webinars

Articles from Members

Announcements

Certification Corner

Membership Corner

Click Here for more Information About ASP'sChapter Events and Webinars!

Not yet an ASP member?

Click here for information on how to join now!

Connect with ASP

Missed an issue of the Strategic Edge? Click here to view the Strategic Edge archives.

THE PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE“…the best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry”

Or in the tongue of Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.” We have oftenheard this phrase from Burns’ poem, “To a Mouse,” in much of our strategic planning training or on the job. It issimilar in intent to Eisenhower’s “a plan is nothing…planning is everything” to invoke the need for real focus onclosing the strategy execution gap.

The more I look at the Conference Agenda details, the more excited I get about what will clearly be a veryinformative and worthwhile event in Chicago May 9 – 11, 2018. I trust you have all purchased your registrationbefore the Early Bird pricing ends on April 9. From scanning the descriptions of the sessions, I see that riskmanagement comes up in at least two presentations. You will hear, for example, from Kim Nesbitt from Mitre on“how to bring risk management into strategic management" on Thursday. On Friday afternoon (no early flightshome please!) you will hear from several speakers on the challenge of managing risks in order to close theexecution gap. It will be interesting to hear the differences in approaches across the federal government sectorand several commercial sectors.

From a recent client experience survey in the federal sector I can provide a little hint into the guidance agenciesmust follow as they develop strategic plans to align to their budget proposals and their performance plans. In2016, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – which acts as the government’s Chief Management Officer– developed new guidelines, including specific guidelines for incorporating risk management ISO 31000/31010standards. OMB did this to upgrade to the government’s version of apply Sarbanes-Oxley, called A-123, to makeit more actionable. My client wasn’t used to this form of risk, even though, they identified transportation risks andmitigation recommendations after investigating a transportation accident. During my training class on leadingstrategic management practices, I was asked to include a module on risk management, as well as, changemanagement. Borrowing from the PMBOK from PMI, I provided definitions and examples of what a risk is vs. anissue. An issue is something occurring now that must be immediately dealt with which has one or more keyimpacts (e.g., schedule delay, cost increase, quality denigration, etc.)

A risk is something that is likely to occur in the future that will likely impact the strategy or desired outcome.Typically, likelihood is assessed either as a percentage or more often it is expressed as a numerical value ofhigh, medium, and low for both likely to occur and likely impact. Many PMP-certified project managers I haveworked with typically assign a 9 to a high likelihood, a 6 to a medium, and a 3 to a low likelihood. Others havesimply used 3 – 2 – 1 or 6 – 3 – 1 (there isn’t really a standard). This made intuitive sense to them, but theywondered what kind of risks they should look for and is there any approach to help them be as complete aspossible (which is the OMB guidance). My recommendation was to go back to a technique I discussed earlier inthe day – PESTEL. Based on the PESTEL analysis they completed during the strategic thinking andenvironmental scanning – that is the political, economic, social, technologic, environmental or legal – set offactors being considered, this would be a good place to start.

We worked through an exercise based on several of the factors I presented and had them go through identifyingrisks and then assessing their likelihood of occurring and the likely impact on their strategy. The exercise wasenlightening. For example, one of the trends I included in the exercise was the “aging of the population”. Theydeemed it high on both assessment scales. From their perspective, an aging population will cause an increase inair travel to smaller airports in “retirement destinations” (e.g., Asheville, NC or Fort Myers, FL) which were not

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designed for the likely increased take-offs and landings. The likelihood of an accident taxing goes up andsomething needed to be done to mitigate the risk from occurring. We discussed other potential risks and had funwith identifying what a policy and investigative agency could possibly do to influence greater attention on thisrisk. But I left that task to themselves.

So, I am looking forward to the experts, like Kim Nesbitt, to provide their insights and “how to’s” regardingidentifying, monitoring, and mitigation risks to strategic execution. I hope to see you in Chicago in early May.Come, learn with me and ASP’s Board. Happy Spring!

Jim Stockmal President, ASP

ASP'S 2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

1 Week Left to Register at the Early Bird Rate!

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More Information:

For more information contact:

Stefanie Pavarin-Tome at

events@strategyassociation.org

or 1-844-345-2828 x240

Connect With Us!

Be Sure to Use the Conference Hashtag!

#ASPConf2018

Thank You to our Sponsors

KEY PARTNER

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PLATINUM

SILVER

IN KIND SPONSOR

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GLOBAL WEBINARS

Connecting Strategy Design and Delivery: Closing the Expensive Implementation Gap

Date: April 16, 2018 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM EDT Presented by Ricardo Viana Vargas, Executive Director of Brightline Initiative™

Is your next strategic initiative doomed to fail? According to a Brightline Initiative’s survey, conducted by theEconomist Intelligence Unit (EIU, 2017) with 500 senior executive leaders across the globe, onlyone in ten organizations successfully reach all of their strategic goals. On average, organizations fail to deliver 20percent of their strategic projects. Ricardo Vargas, Executive Director of The Brightline Initiative, will share someinsights and key findings of the research and discuss what Leaders are doing to successfully deliver theirstrategic objectives. Ricardo will draw connections between the research findings and the Brightline’s 10 GuidingPrinciples to help organizations close the expensive strategy-implementation gap.

Upcoming Global Webinar

Global Webinars Presents: Get Things Done: The Power ofConnectional Intelligence

Date: May 2, 2018 Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM (EDT) Speaker: Erica Dhawan, CEO of Cotential

FREE for ASP Members!

Click here for more details.

If you would like to host a webinar, please reach out to jennie@strategyassociation.org, we would love to hearfrom you!

Missed a webinar? Click here to view our recorded archives.

CHAPTER EVENTS & WEBINARSNPCE Presents:Inform. Inspire. Engage ... Keys to Developing and Monitoring Strategic Business PlanActivity

Date: April 2, 2018 Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM (EDT)

ASP Chicago Presents: The Role of Mid-Level Manager in Strategy Execution

Date: April 10, 2018 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 PM (CDT)

Second Chance to Rock Your Business Model Design with ASP NorCal and Business Models Inc.

Date: April 11, 2018 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (PDT)

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ASP Global Webinars Presents: Connecting Strategy Design and Delivery: Closing the ExpensiveImplementation Gap

Date: April 16, 2018 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM (EDT)

ASP Colorado Presents: Rocky Mountain Strategy Summit 2018

Date: April 21, 2018 Time: .9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (MDT)

Click here for additional information about upcoming events in your area!

ARTICLES FROM MEMBERS

The New U.S. Tax Law and Nonprofit Fundraising: Implications for Strategic Planning By Lynne Brown, VP, Strategic Planning & Organizational Consulting, iBossWell, Inc.

As implementation of the new U.S. tax law passed in 2017 continues to roll out, everyone from individualtaxpayers to business owners to accountants are scrambling to understand the full effects of this massive andcomplex piece of legislation. So, too, are nonprofit leaders. Analysis by some leading experts in the field iscreating uncertainty and raising concern across the sector. Both the Urban Institute-Brookings Institution TaxPolicy Center and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (publisher of the annual Giving USAreport) predict a decrease in charitable giving by individuals in 2018 as a result of provisions in the new law. Theirestimates suggest the drop will range from $4.9 billion to $20 billion. Researchers at the Tax Policy Center alsoforesee a $4 billion drop in planned giving annually. The Center suggests this downward movement in overallcharitable giving will continue in the long run. On the other side of the spectrum, organizations like the AmericanLegislative Council argue the opposite will occur and that charitable giving will actually increase as a result of thetax cut.

Click here to read more.

ANNOUNCEMENTSIntroducing the ASP Community of Practice for GovernmentWelcome to the new Community of Practice, the ASP Excellence in Government Community of Practice (CoP).It is an international special interest group that will be a valuable resource to ASP members and non-members. Itwill serve as a network and clearing house for research, literature, tools, best practices, and resources instrategic management for all levels of government: national, regional, and local government.

The Excellence in Government CoP recognizes the diversity inherent in an international community and willprovide a knowledge sharing hub for all levels of government.

Excellence in Government CoP objectives:

1. Advance Thought Leadership through:1. Identifying and sharing recommended practices.2. Providing articles related to strategic planning in government organizations.3. Oversight of the government research arm of ASP.4. Creating actionable knowledge to share with government strategy professionals.

2. Promote discussion, research, and involvement in national, regional, and local government strategicplanning and management issues.

3. Create visibility for ASP broadly among government strategy professionals.4. Connect people across ASP who have a passion for improving government through strategy management.5. Leverage social media to support government strategy management.

Our potential initiatives: Advancing thought leadership through:

1. Presenting webinars and virtual discussions on relevant topics in the sector.2. Curating literature on successful practices in government strategy.3. Sharing current research and recommendations.4. Participating in conference presentations.5. Networking through social media.

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Our critical Success Factors

1. Community will meet its defined objectives.

2. Community will build visibility of ASP across the sector.

3. Community will drive additional ASP membership.

The Excellence in Government is poised to be a game changer for strategic planning in government.

Don't Forget to Register for ASP Colorado's Rocky MountainStrategy Summit - April 21, 2018The Association for Strategic Planning (ASP) Colorado, in collaboration with Regis University’s College ofBusiness and Economics, is proud to host the Inaugural Rocky Mountain Strategy Summit, Saturday, April21, 2018 at Regis University, in Denver.

This one-day event will feature corporate and nonprofit organization strategists focused The Art of Strategy:Planning and Implementing Corporate and Nonprofit Strategy.

ASP Nonprofit Center for Excellence First Mondays Series What’s trending? #Nonprofits: Implications for Strategy

Date & Time: May 7, 2018, 4:00-5:00 PM (EDT) Presented by: Luann Feehan, Executive Director, Nonprofit Connect

As a nonprofit leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day work of your organization and miss the biggerpicture of issues affecting the social sector, including the potential impact these issues could have on yourstrategic direction and decision-making.

It is a time of uncertainty for nonprofits, and in response, the sector is buckling down to work harder, smarter,leaner and meaner. To do that, nonprofit leaders and strategists must regularly examine the trends affecting theirorganizations and the pivotal work they do in their communities. In May, First Mondays will focus on identifyingsome of those trends, including funding changes, generational differences, and shifts in board leadership, anddiscussing how to respond strategically to the changes coming down the pipe.

The session will be guided by Luann Feehan, Executive Director of Nonprofit Connect, a regional associationbased in Kansas City representing local, regional and national nonprofit organizations of all sizes, and for-profitbusinesses and community funders. In her role, Luann has her finger on the pulse of what is happening acrossthe nonprofit landscape, and works every day to unite nonprofits, foundations, community and business leadersto strengthen their organizations and positively impact the future of the both the community they serve and thenonprofit sector.

Participation in First Mondays is free, but registration is required to participate. Because this is a shared event,we anticipate a large crowd and encourage you to reserve your seat quickly. Registrants will receive an emailwith connection information on the day of the discussion. Registrants will also receive a link to the recording ofthe presentation by mid-May.

Member Spotlight: Peter Young

Name: Peter Young Title: Lead Consultant

Organization: Consulo Advisers Based in Sydney, Australia, contributing locally, nationally, regionally and globally in

support of the people, clients and communities I serve.

What do you do?

In my professional life I am Lead Consultant with Consulo Advisers based in Sydney, Australia, specialising inorganisational strategy, transformation, growth, governance and talent formation.

I work with boards, leadership teams, senior executives and communities to craft and unleash strategy ofbenefit and consequence ...

enabling and executing strategy through lean business models, sound organisational design, businessand operating plans, efficient and effective management process, quantitative and qualitative

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performance metricstransforming stand-alone and complex organisations transcending multiple business units, embracinginnovation and change readiness, engaging stakeholders in the dynamics of their business model toachieve cohesion in and between their markets, workforce and operationsaligning organisational purpose with brand promise to achieve differentiation, growth, value advantage,resilience and impact, securing stakeholder value, evident in resultsforming and developing leadership.

I have a particular interest in ‘for profit’ and ‘for benefit’ service entities, in both the private and public sectors. My functional experience has been honed in senior management roles in Australia, Asia, North America andEurope, where I have contributed in cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations,delivering virtually and face-to-face.

What do you value most about ASP? As I am based in Sydney, Australia, my primary touchpoint with the ASP is through the Association’s regular

webinar program (how good is this new digital age?).

My experience is that ASP members (participants in webinars) are well credentialled (evident in Q&A) andthat the ASP enjoys unrivalled access to distinctive practitioners (webinar presenters) who contributeenthusiastically to the development of ASP members.

What book would you recommend for other ASP members to read? I’m a big reader, in an age where physical and e-books, journals, podcasts, webinars and videos, abound, on-

demand.

I recommend that ASP members read as widely as possible in their chosen specialist field(s) and augmenttheir situational learning with contextual material from adjacent fields, so they can better understand how theirspecialist learning can be contextually applied.

For better value, join a book club or meet-up group where you can share and explore your ‘book learning’ withlike-minded colleagues. Often, it’s not what you read, it’s how others interpret what you have read and betterunderstand, that makes a difference.

Let Us Spotlight you Next Month!We want to let ASP members know who you are! To be featured in our member spotlight in a future issue and onthe ASP website, just answer any three questions from the following list, provide a photo of yourself (head shot),and be sure to include your name, title and organization.

What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?What are your biggest professional challenges?What do you value most about ASP?What are you proudest of?How can other ASP members help you?How can you help other ASP members?What book would you recommend for other ASP members to read?What do you like most about your current role?What are your career aspirations?What are three words that describe you?What do you do?If you are not at work, you are...?

Please email your answers, photo and information to membership@strategyassociation.org.

CERTIFICATION CORNER

Are you Certifiable? A Kick-Off for Certification StudyThis full day pre-conference course offers exposure to key strategy concepts that candidates for ASPcertification in either SPP or SMP would need to understand to be successful. The course surveys key conceptsin the four domains of our certification program: Lead, Think, Plan and Act. In each domain, a successfulcandidate answers multiple choice questions involving three strategy elements: content, process and context.This course is designed to be a kick-off for your study plan. This course will help you assess how much and whatkind of study you would need to do to be successful on an ASP certification exam. We will also help you developa study plan for success.

2018 ASP PRE-CONFERENCE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM $300 (breaks and lunch included)

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MEMBERSHIP CORNER

Welcome to new members who joined in March 2018!

Atlanta Chapter

Shenila RodriguezRobert Whitemore, Strategic Consulting Partners

Honduras Chapter

Juan Carlos Fiallos

Members at Large

Mary Grinstead, Des Moines Public SchoolsTselane Chicks, Denel DynamicsChad BoltenTim Pitsch, Plexus Corp.Allison Henry, Saputo Dairy Foods USAPete Needham, Next DimensionLaRita Barber, Goodwill Industries of the Southern PedmontSheryl Traficano, National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators

National Capital Area Chapter

Marie Custode, Fairfax County Health Department

Los Angeles Chapter

Steve Morgan, Bank of America Corporation

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